Which is the best motorcycle for Ladakh trip?

September 21, 2016

Not so long ago, if anyone mentioned of a motorcycle trip to Ladakh, only a Royal Enfield would come to mind. And trust me; the discussions would go on to topics like would a 350CC Royal Enfield do or do you need a 500 CC Enfield for the trip. Talk about a motorcycle ride to Ladakh and people would think of you as crazy. Back then, it was a dream that only the adventurous type would dare to accomplish. People who did not own an Enfield but had some other motorcycle would either borrow or rent one. But Enfield was pretty much tagged as the only bike that was suitable for Ladakh.

But is it really true? Do you really need an Enfield for Ladakh? Will some other bike do? Can you take a Pulsar to Ladakh? Or can you take a 135 CC or a 100 CC motorcycle to Ladakh? These are some of the queries that I receive so often; and the most common question of all is; which is the best motorcycle for Ladakh trip?

Best Motorcycle For Ladakh

The answer is that there is no best motorcycle as such. The answer depends on a lot of factors like how much luggage are you carrying, do you have a pillion, or how old your motorcycle is? You need to know that it is not your motorcycle that will take you to Ladakh but it is you who is going to ride the motorcycle to Ladakh. I have personally known people who have been to Ladakh on 100 CC bikes, an old Hero Honda Splendor to be exact.

The fact cannot be denied that having a more powerful motorcycle with heavy engine of course gives an edge, if you have it than nothing like it. I am of course referring to an Enfield here. Bigger the engine means more the power which further means that the ride would be smooth, especially at steep ascents and you can dump all the luggage you want on your motorcycle. But at the same time, it doesn’t mean that a lighter motorcycle cannot get the job done. If your motorcycle is in a good condition, isn’t as old as my grandfather, and you know how to ride it well then you can take it anywhere you want. Whichever motorcycle you own, mentioned below are a few factors(most of which are applicable to smaller engine motorcycles) that you need to pay close attention to before deciding on whether to take it up the hills or not.

Age: No, I am not talking about your age but your motorcycle’s actually. I do not intend to get into the whole “Old bullet is better and more powerful” argument but the fact remains that older the machine is, higher the chance is of it breaking down or giving trouble at several places. If you have a 10 year old 135 CC motorcycle sitting in your garage, do not even think about taking it to Ladakh.

Odometer: Your motorcycle may be only 3-4 years old but if you have already abused it to over 1 lakh kilometers, best not to ride it to Leh.

Pillion: If you have a friend or a family member riding with you as Pillion, do not take a smaller engine motorcycle as it will start to huff & puff at steep ascents. It won’t just be 2 people but their luggage as well on the motorcycle.

Luggage: If you are riding a 500CC motorcycle, luggage isn’t really a big concern but if it is a 150 CC bike, then do not carry unnecessary luggage. Just take whatever you must. More luggage on your motorcycle would mean a very uncomfortable and difficult ride, both for you and your machine.

Performance: This is the most important of all. You really need to know your motorcycle inside out. You should know how it performs at ascents or at great speeds. No matter which motorcycle you have, you need to be 100% confident of no performance issues. If you have even the slightest of doubt, then get it fixed first.

Condition: Make sure there are no worn out parts in your motorcycle, anything that can break or fall apart. Whatever seems dicey, replace it.

Get it serviced: Make sure that you get your motorcycled serviced at least 1 week before you trip. Check all the cables, wires, clutch plates, chain set, tires, wheels. After servicing, ride it for a week regularly to ensure that it is performing up to expectations.

With that being said, there are of course a few motorcycles that will suit the journey better as compared to others.

Royal Enfield: Nothing like it of course to take to Ladakh. The big engine, whether 350 CC or 500 CC gives it an edge over all other motorcycles. The heavier size of the motorcycle makes it easier to tie luggage around. Good suspension and seating position makes it comfortable for both the rider and the pillion making it suitable for the long journey. Enfield was an acquired taste earlier due to a heavy kick that required decompressing, no electric start, the left side brake system but after all these changes in the newer models, it has now become everybody’s motorcycle. The only drawback however with Classic, Standard and Electra is the smaller tank which makes it a mandate to carry fuel while riding Enfield in Ladakh. This drawback however is not with Thunderbird which has a larger fuel tank. If you own a Royal Enfield, you already know that you do not need to think twice before taking it to Leh.

Bajaj Pulsar: Probably the most popular and best-selling motorcycle today in Indian market. With a Pulsar, you can rest assured that you can rely on it and it won’t really ditch you anywhere. Be it a 220CC, 200CC or a 150CC pulsar, you can confidently plan your adventure ride on it. The huge fuel tank makes it ideal for long journeys and you won’t have to worry about fuel so much. It does have its drawbacks though. The first and the foremost one is the seating position and on bad roads, it is bound to get your shoulders to start aching so make sure that you are not seated in a leaning position. Sit straight to get the pressure off your shoulders. Second drawback is its seat which is not comfortable at all and will kill your butt during long rides so a good comfortable seat cover is highly recommended. On a lighter note, be careful with your balls as well while riding on bad roads. Anyone who owns a Pulsar would know what I mean here.

Hero Impulse: Good bike for Ladakh if you are going without pillion. Dual sport tires and long travel shocks make it fun to ride on dirt tracks. Upright riding position and comfortable seating posture ensures no fatigue. Biggest drawback is the 12 liter fuel tank with an average of about 40-45 kmpl. Under-powered engine may sometimes prove troublesome at steep ascents though but only if the bike is not well maintained.

Yamaha FZ and Fazer: These would be my next most preferred motorcycles for Ladakh. Pretty much the same advantages and disadvantages as Pulsar.

KTM Duke: Pretty much the same advantages and disadvantages as Hero Impulse. This is one motorcycle that would be fun to ride on bad and challenging roads that Ladakh is so famous for.

Royal Enfield Himalayan: The newest off-roader motorcycle in Indian market or shall I probably say the first and the only, I am not too sure considering the Impulse and KTM bikes were too tagged the same? None the less, this motorcycle is a perfect for riding in Himalayan terrains. The 400 CC engine is capable enough to carry it through any trail or any ascent, though anyone who has ridden other models of Royal Enfield would feel that it definitely lacks some juice. The sitting position is straight and very comfortable, both for the rider and pillion and there is plenty of space to put all that luggage, including the Jerry cans for extra fuel.

Bajaj Vikrant: I am not really sure about this one and adding it here for user comments. The Ladakh Bike rental association added this one to their list recently and it is now available for rental all over Ladakh. I would welcome any comments from someone who has been to Ladakh and have ridden it there.

CBR 250: The stock Contigo tires can be a problem in the slush/ice/rain/gravel. If you can afford to replace with better tires, this motorcycle can be a bliss to ride with its amazing torque and Fi advantage at higher reaches.

These were some of the popular bikes that I would recommend for Ladakh. One popular motorcycle that I would not however recommend at all is Bajaj Avenger. Do not get me wrong, it is a great motorcycle but in my opinion not suitable at all for Ladakh trip. Almost everyone that I know who went to Ladakh on avenger has taken the fall at one place or another during the trip. It has a large turning radius making it a little troublesome in hilly region. The small height and low seating becomes tiresome for someone tall. The rear seat is not really wide enough for pillion rider. The front disk and the entire seating position is that if you applied sudden brakes at a sharp turn, your are bound to fall. You will be on the ground before you get your feet down. This however is just my personal opinion and other may not agree with it.

If you are riding with a pillion, then do it only if you have an Enfield. On all other motorcycles, ride solo if you can, as the seating position and the hassle of roping the luggage can be problematic during long rides. If you are on a 100 or 135 CC motorcycle, you must ride solo. If you are renting a motorcycle, then go for a Pulsar or Hero Impulse if you are riding solo or an Enfield if you have a pillion.

As I mentioned above, these are just a few recommended motorcycles. In the end, it all matters on how well you have maintained your motorcycle and how well you know it and how well can you ride. If the answer to these questions is “quite well” then by all means, go to Ladakh irrespective of which motorcycle you own.

Which is the best motorcycle for Ladakh trip? was last modified: May 7th, 2017 by Vargis.Khan

Hi Anntriksh – In terms of power output it is good. In terms of comfort you will have to make some adjustments.You will have to get a luggage carrier installed and get some cushion added to the rear seat so the pillion is comfortable during long rough rides. Also, remove the lower faring to prevent it from getting damaged. You can put it back on once you are back from Ladakh.

Hello Amal – Yes you will be able to complete the trip on Himalayan. Just ensure to get a general check up done at every 1000 kilometers and serviced at every 2000 kilometers to ensure a hassle free ride.

Hi vargis, im from rajasthan and my age is 48 years, im doctor by profession, i. Planning to buy bike for adventure trips lije leh. Im confused between re tb 500 vs dominar. I tried both but im confused between both. Dominar is good but i
feel little stress at shoulder region & stress at arms. My height is 176cm. And I need your valuable opinion as budget is not issue. Tb 500 is almost 50k more vs dominar. What is your suggestion for me. Also please suggest if it is advisable at my age for such kind of trip? Thanks in advance.

Hello Dr. Hatuka – About the age and the trips, well you are a Doctor yourself Sir. As long as there is no medical or physical condition involved, there is nothing stopping you. I have seen 65 year old guys cycling from Manali to Ladakh, yes on a Bicycle, but they were all foreigners though. You are still young enough Sir, please explore as long as your health allows.

About the motorcycles, I will not recommend Dominar if comfortable crusing for long hours and trips are on your mind. It is a good motorcycle but not built for long comfortable rides. Yes, you are right, it will put stress on shoulders because of the seating position. A long trip will also mean carrying luggage, spare fuel etc for which there is really no suitable space on the motorcycle. So by all means Sir, please go for a Royal Enfield. It will serve you way better than a Dominar. I am not saying that Dominar is not a good bike, but it is not really for what you have in mind. Go for a TB.

Thanks a lot vargis bhai for your advice, i really appreciate your words and to encourage me. Im planning to buy tb500, is there any suggestions? I heard it needs a lot of maintenance. Also efi problem and no tubeless tyres so if flat during long journey what are the options? Or need to change alloys and tubeless at the time of purchase? Please advise if i stick to tb 500 or any substitute available in market regarding less maintenance required after purchase or 2017 model is less with problems like earlier. Thanks again for boost me up & quick response bro.

one more query if only re is best option which re u suggest.tb350/500,re himalayan ,classic or bullet 350vs500 for more comfort & less problems.
i rode yamaha rx100 in 90s more then 70000 km during medical studies but that was totally maintenance free .
but now speed is not priority ,now comfort and less problems is important as i mentioned issues with re above. your opinion matters a lot for me as you are most experienced person as a explorer, blogger and biker.

I will say that go for a Bullet 350 or 500. Buy an Electra 350, it will be better than TB or Himalayan.

Vargis.KhanAugust 5, 2017 at 10:12 pm

You are welcome Dr. Hatuka,

I think you will agree when I say that “respect the machine and the machine will respect you”. All the fuss about Enfields being high on maintenance is just talk. Ask anyone who have had an Enfield for a while and they will tell your otherwise. Just keep a general rule, get a health check up done of the motorcycle after every 1000 kilometers and get it serviced every 2000 kilometers. Follow this rule and no Enfield will ever trouble you. I have had one for last 10 years, my father had one since he was in his 20s and none of complain about it.

Yes to both your questions. I went to Leh last year with couple of my friends on 150CC bikes, CBZ and Pulsar, and we completed the journey without any problem at all. Just get the clutch plates checked once after you reach Leh.

Hello Neeraj Bhai – You will be able to complete the trip, just make sure that you ride it back home enough to get the first servicing done before you go to Leh. Also, please take a look at the post below.

hi vargis..am planning a trip to ladakh by honda unicorn ? ideally am thinking to transport bike from hyderabad to delhi then delhi to manali ( transport ) and start journey from Manali to leh…
have been trying to mak plans from last 4 years and this time had quit job to complete my dream tour.

i do not the routes, gas stations, fuel planning, etc.. n what precaution on a honda unicorn?/
Kindly advice…. the best plan for me and my friend.

Hello Ashok – Street will be perfect for Ladakh trip, no problem at all. Just 2 things you will have to take care of. If I am not mistaken, Street gives you about 20 kmpl, correct? Second the tank capacity is about 12 to 13 liters? This would mean that you will have to make arrangements to carry fuel. Second would be of making proper arrangements to carry all the luggage and the additional fuel on the motorcycle.

I’m planning for a Delhi-Srinagar-Leh-Manali-Delhi trip on my Avenger cruise 220 this year in the second to third week of October. Leaving from Delhi on the 13th and reaching back to Delhi on the 26th to be precise.

Now, I do understand that it is not advisable to travel on these dates on these roads due to the weather conditions, but I really have no choice about the dates. So, can you please advise about the precautions and any tips for this trip?

Bike is a year and a half old and has done about 34k. I got it serviced today and again plan to get it serviced in the last week of September.

Hello Ajay – October is not an ideal time to travel on Manali Leh highway so by all means please avoid that. You should take Srinagar via Kargil to Leh and return via Batalik (just for an alternate route, if you get the permits). In Ladakh as well, it may snow at top of the passes in october so roads may close temporarily, for a day or two. Rest you are Ok traveling in October, a lot of people do that. Season is ending by that time but its not completely over so you will still find tourists in Ladakh.

So, my plan is to reach Leh on the 18th. Can I do Nubra Valley on the 19th and Pangong and Moriri on 20th and 21st a day then head back to Delhi from there??

Vargis.KhanJune 6, 2017 at 7:47 pm

If you are reaching on 18th then you will need a day in Leh to arrange permits. Provided that you arrange for those by 11 AM, you can still start for Nubra and make it there before dark. Pangong to Moriri however in a day is way too long a journey, best to give it two days.

i own honda hornet 160r and one of my friend owns the same …we are planning ladakh trip most probably this year but will the bike survive till the journey (mumbai to ladakh) ?
also what all things which we need to keep in mind to make this trip successfull and hassle free ?

its been one year i have taken my motorcycle …and i has run at around 17000 km till now…and the condition is well maintained by me …oil change at every 5000 km also proper servicing is been done time to time ….

Then your bike will definitely survive but you will have to get it serviced while on the way. From Mumbai, before hitting the hilly region, get it serviced and after coming down, before starting back to Mumbai, get it serviced again. Depending on what route you are taking, google about reliable Honda service center in any of the towns on the way.

Hi, just want to share a horrible experience with my as200 Pulsar during Ladakh tour. Just to mention that after crossing sarchu as more hight we pick, the bike began to show altitude syndrome. It reacts as if its not getting enough power, maximum 5 or 10 km p/h. And at khardungla it totalled. The bike at that time was in 1st year 12k run, all stock no modifications and had recent service before the ride. The mechanic there informed it was with every bike that it shut down and fail to response. I have shown this to the service centre here in Delhi. They said everything is fine with it. Luggage was little, so it was not a problem though. Any idea what went wrong. Cause I am planning on July to visit again on same bike.

Hi Sanjay, I am not really sure what would have gone wrong. The only thing I can think of is that the clutch plates were burnt out. During my last ride, one of my friends was on 150CC Pulsar and another on 150CC Karizma, both bikes over 3 years older. Karizma started to give same kind of trouble on Manali Leh highway, pick up was gone as if there is no power and at several places it almost stalled. We got it checked after reaching Leh, found out that the clutch plates were completely burnt, got them changed on both Pulsar and Karizma and did not face any trouble at all anywhere.

Clutch plate on a bike with only 12k on clock. Hard to think could be. Well some how after reaching Leh we went for magnetic, and also climb the nearby..hill.. everyone was trying for the sand hill nearby as who can reach top. Well suprisingly, mine was at top.

Received an email today from a reader asking if Bajaj Dominar is good enough for Ladakh so thought of adding this information here in comments for everyone’s sake. You can definitely take Bajaj Dominar to Ladakh. The big strong engine will give you all the power you need however the only problem is of fuel. It has a tank size of 13 liters and average will be around 25 in Ladakh so you will definitely need to make arrangements to carry spare fuel.

Dear Vargis, I am planning to Buy a Bike, Only and Only For Long Tours Like
1) Delhi To Leh-Dehradun-Nepal-Arunachal Pardesh-NE-Back To Delhi.
2) Delhi-Rajasthan-Delhi
3) Delhi-Central India-Along The West Coast-Kanyakumari-Along the East Coast-Central India-Delhi
4) Asian Highway 1 Delhi to Malaysia (5500×2=11k kms)
5) Delhi-Nepal-Delhi

I am 6’3″ tall. Don’t Need Speed (Not More Then 100kms/hr) only Need Comfort and Safety when i drive. I did hitchhiking but now want to travel on my own bike (Safety Issues). I will not drive with a pillion occupied. Only Solo Trips with luggage. (I don’t need much luggage as a hitchhiker i know how to survive with less resources).

So, Basically i need a bike which can be my partner and workhorse same time. I had TB Machismo 350,Pulsar 180,Apache150,Splendor,Activa..but I didn’t like TB Machismo (Need Maintenance Frequently). Well my choices are :-

With your height brother (which I envy you for by the way), Avenger is A big NO. It is good for someone with medium height. The large turning radius is a problem if you take it up the hills. The Renegade Commando is a better choice than this if you want to try something in avenger category.

You will either have to chose from Dominar or Classic 350. Since you have had a Pulsar before, imagine that with a bigger engine and more power. If you were comfortable riding that for long duration on regular basis, go for it. Or else, RE Classic will be the obvious choice.

If I was in your place, I will go for RE. It is better for cruising than a Dominar, is more spacious and comfortable.

Hey.. I am thinking of solo Delhi- Ladakh trip On Honda Shine 125 cc in july 1st week.. bike is 6 years old ,and i have done around 45,000 kms on it.. bike is in good condition.. i get it serviced and engile oil change on every 1800-2000kms, engine and everything is in good condition.. soo what precautions should take before going to trip?

Hi Vargis , I’m planning to buy the upcoming BMW G310 GS and would plan to go to ladakh on it … Would it be a good bike as in considering the foreign make … worrying about breakdowns and spares hence the question ?

Hi Ved – First of all, let me congratulate you on your plans to buy this hunk of a machine. I envy you brother. Did they announce the launch date yet though? Last I heard it was still not confirmed when it will be available in the market.

Coming to your question, you have a very valid point. Though this motorcycle is more than capable for terrains like Ladakh, a breakdown may get you in trouble. You may not find a mechanic there who would be ready to fix it for you and the ones agreeing may even cause more damage than fix. I have known people who have been to Ladakh on superbikes and BMWs but they were mostly in groups with a mechanic on tow.

If you do however plan to ride it to Ladakh, ensure that it is well serviced and carry some essential spare parts with you.

Is this the a adventurers roads to travel.
Cause this time we want adventure thats why this route.
Guide me if there is any changes needed in anything. We are 3 people all solo bikes
Ktm rc 200
Yamha fazer 150
Duke 200

Hi Vicky – Plan looks good enough. You may and probably will face AMS problem at both Pang and Tso Moriri though. I hope when you say Tso Moriri to Leh, you mean via Upshi and Tanglang La and not via Chushul Pangong, correct?

I have a query, I am planning to hit Ladakh via below route
Amritsar-Udhampur/Patnitop-Srinagar-Kargil-Lamayuru/Leh-Nubra Valley/Turtuk-Pangong Lake-Pang/Sarchu-Manali-Chandigarh.

My tour date shall start on 12th June end shall end on 23/24th June.

With your much experience on the tough terrains about the above route, i intend to complete it on my 1980 Royal Enfield 350 Bullet.
Last month I got the complete gearbox overhauled (except the shaft). on June 1, i will get my bike fully serviced and will carry mandatory spares along with me. My bike is running on 3 clutch plates. Do you recommend to get the same upgraded to 4 clutch plate set? Or the 3 plate is also fine for the given route.

Kindly suggest the same. Would be happier if any like minded will like to join my trip schedule.

I will be travelling in train from Mumbai to Amritsar (bike in luggage van) on 10th June and will reach Amritsar on 11th June evening 7PM.

Hi Jaskaran – I would advise against replacing the clutch plates. Number of plates assigned depends on a lot of factors like friction area and required power output with packaging of the entire set up. A 3 plate clutch would start to slip in a 500 CC bullet and the same way, a 4 plate clutch may just cause more problem if squeezed in a space designed for 3.

As long as clutch plates are not burning out too soon, and there is no other problem like slipping gears or bike refusing to pick up after a bit of heating, you are OK and have no need to replace the clutch plates.

You can tweak things a bit for better performance like installing a heavy duty clutch cable and clutch springs but only if you are not happy the way your Bullet is picking up as of now. If there are no issues in city and it runs smooth, getting it well serviced will do the job just fine.

Hi Vargis. I am referring to many of your articles as I am preparing for this trip. You have penned down so many helpful inputs with much details. I am glad that people like you exist. May god give you best of health so that you can explore more places and enlighten us.
Coming down to your suggestion, i will keep it with 3 plate set (and carry extra set) and surely install heavy duty springs.
Btw, i will be using a little bigger size main jet while starting from Amritsar as i just do not want to take a risk of losing pickup at such high altitudes.
Further will need your guidance on this, in your link for obtaining ILP for vehicles, you stated that vehicles older than 10 years are not allowed for ILP. Is it applicable for motorcycles too? Because you know mine is in her 37s. ;).
Regards.

Hi Shrikant. Thank you for the suggestion. I would have happily accepted your offer to let your friend become my pillion, provided I had new age Enfield. Mine is 1980 bullet of which I am myself little bit of unsure of how it will take care of my load + luggage at such steepy roads of Ladakh. I am myself looking for a companion (but with his/her own bike) as I am travelling solo, as its always better to have a helping hand in the times of unforeseen situations. But carrying a pillion on that route that too on a 37 years old bike is the risk which I cannot afford to take. If I can help you out in any other way, do reach me on jack.lp7@gmail.com
Regards,
Jaskaran S Chawla

KTM RC is good for Ladakh but I will suggest that you remove the lower faring. That may get damaged. Another thing is the fuel tank is only 9.5 liters so you will have to make arrangements to carry extra fuel.

Pulsar RS 200 is good for Ladakh.

One suggestion though, go solo on both these motorcycles. Not really built for a journey to Ladakh with pillion.

Bajaj Dominar is perfect for a Ladakh trip. Riding position is quite comfortable on a split dual seat for long rides. Cruising is effortless be in on the highway or going uphill. It is just the weight of the bike and the long wheelbase that will take some extra effort while steering at tighter sections. Another thing is that due to the wide saddle, someone with a short height may have trouble putting feet on the ground. But that is pretty much about it. Rest all is positive and positive about this motorcycle. Take it to Ladakh and you will have no problem be it the steep ascents or crossing those rough sections or taking it across the water stream.

It has a 14 liter petrol tank, city average is about 35 so expect it to be between 25-30 in Ladakh. You will have to carefully calculate the distance without a gas station in between and make fuel arrangements.

Hi Arif – If you mean Mumbai – Leh – Mumbai all the way on motorcycle in 10 days then no it is not possible. If you however catch a flight, then rent a motorcycle and fly back home then yes you can do it.

Hi Arif – If you are asking that am I offering motorcycle for rents in Manali, then the answer is No. Please read the article below for more information on how to rent a motorcycle in Manali and what will be the cost.

Hi i am planning to do kanyakumari to kashmir trip (and back i live near kanyakumari) on a fazer fi next month. i know fazer does not have a good top end it can do 80 – 85 comfortably i think it is enough for me.The bike is 1.5 years old and has done 15k kms till date.I was planning to buy dominar but decided to skip for now.I will replace rear tyre ,chain,sprocket ,air filter, spark plug,fork oil seal and a new amaron battery and keep old battery as spare. can you tell me what other things to do regarding bike maintanace for this trip?.thanks.

Since you will be travelling for so long, it will not make much sense to carry a lot of spares with you. Just carry a few essentials like clutch, accelerators wires eitc, puncture kit, tubes if the tires are not tubeless, spare headlamps. The key to a hassle free travel here would be to get your bike checked after every 1000 kilometers and serviced after every 2000 kilometers. Since you will be covering several major towns on the way, finding a mechanic should not be a problem. While you are getting it serviced, make sure that they check the electric wiring as well

Hi Verges sir,
Thanks for your kind guidance to the query of Aparna Kumar. This is Neeraj Kumar, her husband. One more advice needed. I’m having brand new Enfield’s Thunderbird 350cc and want to go along with my wife Aparna. She rides on Activa 110cc which we can upgrade with Aprilia 150cc. Now the dilemma is will it be better to ride pillion on Thunderbird only or solo on Thunderbird and Aprilia? Solo riding is more comfortable for me as we can change postures and gives better balance. Aprilia has some limitations you have already answered. It is very difficult to decide between these two choices. Please suggest.

Advisable would be that you both ride on TB but if your wife indeed wants to ride on her Aprilia then below is what you will need to do.

1. Carry all the luggage on TB. Do not put anything on Aprilia and let her ride it freely.
2. While crossing a water stream, you go across first. Park your TB, come back and carefully inspect for a section which does not seem deep or does not have lose stones underneath the water. A better choice would be that you ride it across the stream but if your wife insists on doing it herself, ensure that you are right behind her to push in case Aprilia gets stuck.
3. Buy your Aprilia ASAP and ensure that it is ridden for a couple of months and at least has been serviced once before taking it to Ladakh.
4. Another challenge would be slush. While crossing one, only ride it across if you can firmly put your feet down while sitting. If your entire feet is not touching the ground, better to get off the scooter and walk it across while accelerating slowly.
5. Your biggest challenge however would be in terms of fuel. Can you let me know your itinerary so I can advise where can you find fuel and how much should you be carrying?

Absolutely. Karizma ZMR will be great for a Ladakh trip. The large fuel tank and good mileage will be a benefit. Just one thing though, remove the lower fairing if you can before the trip. Friend of mine damaged the fairing while crossing a water stream that turned out to be deeper than expected.

Hi Hemant – Yes you can cover this entire route in June 1st week except for the Manali route. That may be a little dicy. Manali Leh highway usually opens by late May or early June however a delay is expected this year. It is still snowing up there and BRO hasnt even started working on clearing the snow. Best to wait until May before you finalise your itinerary and time of travel.

Coming to Royal Enfield TB, It is definitely a good motorcycle and you will have no trouble completing the trip on it. Just one suggestion though, you may want to do something about the seat. In my opinion, it is not really that comfortable for pillion rider for long hours everyday. See if you can maybe add a cover to it with more cushion or change it to make the ride comfortable for your lady.

I know two people who have been to Ladakh on a scooter. One girl took her Activa to Ladakh and another guy went surprisingly on Bajaj Chetak. So it is definitely doable but I would still not call Aprili suitable for Ladakh. Below is why,

1. Small size of tires: Because of the small tire size, you will have trouble riding it at rough patches and specially while crossing numerous water streams that you will come across on your way to Ladakh. Taking it across a water crossing will be quite a challenge and you will have to be extremely careful and have help standing nearby.

2. Low ground clearance: Because of the small tire size, gound clearance is low because of which your scooter will be at risk of getting damaged at rough sections of the road.

3. Fuel: This will be your biggest challenge. Tank size of Aprilia is merely 6.5 ltrs with an average of 30 kmpl. This average too will drop further in Ladakh. You will have to ensure that you are carrying additional fuel in large quantity depending on your itinerary.

Engine size of Aprilia is not a problem. If you are able to tackle the first 2 points and make arrangements for third point, you should be able to ride it.

If you must, I would advise that you plan your trip someone in September. Roads at that time are in near perfect condition, you will not find a lot of rough patches and water streams too will be less. The ones that are still there will not be too deep or difficult or dangerous to cross. Do not plan in July or August.

Gixxer SF will be good for a Ladakh trip. Try not to carry too much luggage, ride solo if you can and depending on areas you plan on covering, make arrangments for fuel. Get your bike serviced at least a couple of weeks before the trip and ride it in the city for a few days before going on the trip.

Hi Arpit – It is good enough brother provided that it is well maintained and you get it serviced before Ladakh trip. Whatever seems problematic, get it fixed or replaced and you will have no trouble at all.

I would advise against it Ramesh. The low ground clearance of Ninja 650 can cause some real damage to the motorcycle. The weight of the motorcycle too can be a little problematic. It is way too heavy for off-road conditions. I am not too sure about the seating position too, it is not really meant for riding every day for 8 hours off-road.

If you must however take it then you will need to make a few adjustments,

1. Create better ground clearance. Remove the lower faring and see if the silencer can be adjusted to a slightly higher position.

2. Put a couple of additional accessories to protect the bike. A crash guard would be helpful to protect the plastic in case you took a fall. Install a radiator guard. Some sort of metal plates underneath to protect it from below.

3. Create better and comfortable seating by changing foot pegs position and bringing handle bar to be more upright.

4. You will need to seriously consider about how you will carry all that extra fuel that you will need.

Honda Hornet has the same engine which we saw earlier in Honda Unicorn, just tuned up a little better. In terms of performance, the 160 CC engine will take you well enough throughout your ride to Ladakh. Company claims an average of 60 kmpl in plains, in reality it would be between 50-55, so expect it to be around 40-45 in Ladakh. So with a fuel tank capacity of 12 litres, it will minimize the need of carrying extra fuel drastically unless you are planning to cover areas like Changthang in which case you will definitely need to carry extra fuel. Both the front and rear mono shock absorbers do a great job at rough patches. The problem however is with sitting position. You do not sit straight while riding a Hornet but in a slightly sportier position. This can prove to be tiring for longer rides. The handlbar is too a bit short which can be a bit tricky around those sharp turns. Another problem will be of roping the luggage around the bike. So the question of can you take Honda Hornet to Ladakh? Answer is yes in terms of performance but ensure that you do not carry way too much luggage and ride solo. Do not try to speed up, ride slow and carefully and you will be OK.

Coming to Gixxer SF, Pros and Cons are pretty much as Hornett with slightly better and comfortable ride and better mileage as well. The handlebar too on Gixxer is a bit taller, adding to comfort and a better seating position.

So you can take both Hornett and Gixxer to Ladakh but as I said, do not carry too much luggage, ride solo and depending on areas you plan on covering, make arrangments for fuel. Get your bikes serviced at least a couple of weeks before the trip.

DAY 06 | MOTORCYCLE MAINTENANCE, LOCAL SIGHT SEEING, ACCLIMATIZATION & REST DAY
Our team will work on your motorcycles today and you can spend your time in exploring the locale and take good rest to get acclimatize for our onward journey.

You may face problem at Rohtang Pass because permits to vehicles 10 years or older are not being issued. If your bike is well maintained then yes, by all means you can take it to Leh but travel via Srinagar to reach there and return via Manali so that you do not face any hassle at Rohtang. I myself own a 350 Electra 2008 model and have been to Ladakh and Spiti multiple times on it, and always with a pillion. Went there last year as well and even though it is more than 7 years old now, did not give any problem at all. They key is that your Electra should be well maintained and if yes then take it to Leh.

Renegade Commando is a good enough bike for the trip Karan. 2800 CC engine produces enough power for steep ascents, 18 kms fuel tank would be helpful but do carry some spare fuel. The rear brake positioning on this bike is a bit high which can prove to be tricky while riding through rough terrains but if you are habitual to it it won’t bother much. Overall, a good enough comfortable cruiser for Ladakh.

Hi Vargis.. Some advice please. 4 of us are planning a trip from Amritsar to srinagar to lah over to manali back to Amritsar ….yes round trip. Can your recommended a motorcycle hire company in amritsar.??.